Folding vehicle.



PATENTBD DEC. 5, 1905.

B. BAUMANN. FOLDING VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1904.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

EMIL BAUMANN, or HORGEN, "SWIlZERLAND. FOLDING VEHICLE.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL BAUMANN, a citi A characteristic feature of myinvention.

resides in the combination of a sectional jointed wheel-axle, aseat-support, and a seat having back and arm rests, said parts-adaptedto be folded in a horizontal plane at right angles to the longitudinalaxis ofthe vehicle.

A. further feature of my'invention liesv in the combination, with such avehicle, of apole or; shafts adapted to be turned down or folded betweenthe wheels when the vehicle is folded.

That my invention may be fully understood I will describe the same indetail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating atwo-wheeled vehicle embodying my invention, and in which Figure l is aside elevation,-partly in section; Fig. 2, a horizontal section;- Fig.3,'a rear elevation; and Fig. 4, 'a similar view, the latter showing thevehicle folded; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views.

The wheel-axle 1 is composed of four sections hinged together at thepoints 2,. so that by applying the power, for instance, at or near thelongitudinal center of said axle its sections will be contracted orfolded up, as shown in Fig. 4;, the two central sections being projectedforwardly in a plane at right angles to the plane of the axle, as willbe readily understood. I

On the outer-sections of the axle l are mounted the wheels3 in, anyusual or preferred manner, and to said outer sections, on the innerside'of the wheels, are secured longitudinal bearers4 for theseat-support. This support is formed of two pairs of crossed legs 55.and 6 6, pivoted at their points-of intersection 7, the lower ends ofone pair of legs 5 being journaled or otherwise rotatably connected tothe rear end of the bearers 4;,-

while the lower end of the legs 6 is similarly connected to the forwardend of said bearers 4:, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. Each of the legs 5and 6 isprovided at its upper end with a strap 9, slotted as shown at23, Fig. 6, in which straps are journaled the longitudinal Specificationof Letters Patent. Application filed November 17,1904. Serial No.233,168.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

seat-bars 10, a screw-bolt'22 limiting the rotation of the legs 5 and 6on said bars 10,

- which are extended beyond. the forward uprights 12 and connectedtogether by a piece of flexible material 14, as canvas or the like,which constitutes the seat. Upright bars 11, of greater height than theuprights 12, are secured to the longitudinal bars 10 at their rear endsand are connected to the uprigh s,

12 by arm-rests '13 and to each other by a flexible strip of material15, as canvas or the like, which constitutes the back of the seat. Theextensions 16 of the seat-bars 10 are also connected together by a looseor loop-like piece of fabric 17 which constitutes the footrest, and tosaid extensions are hinged at 19 the shafts 18, any suitable means beingprovided to lock said shafts in anormal position for instance, aspring-catch 20, Fig. 5, adapted to engage a suitablekeeper and providedwith a handle for disengaging said catch from its said keeper.

It is obvious that when the wheel-axle is contracted or folded the legs5 and 6 will also fold together, as well as the side bars 10 1 3. "andthe uprights 11 12 of the seat, as shown in Fig. 4:, thus raising theseat and shafts. 1 8, hinged thereto, a considerable distance,sufiicient to permit the shafts to be turned down or folded between thewheels, as shown in said Fig. 4. a

From the described construction it .will readily be seen that the weightof the occupant of the vehicle will maintain the same unfolded, andasthe crossed legs 5 and 6 are connected to-the ends of the bearers 4theywill keep the wheel-axle also extended or unfolded.

backward or forward when in use or when folded, I secure to each bearert a barhaving downwardly-projecting legs 21 at each end, the forwardlegs, projecting forwardly, beingcurved upwardly to. prevent them'fromengaging the ground, while the rear legs, which project rearwardly, arepreferably provided with small wheels, as shown. 'I do not desire tolimit myself to the details of construction described, as these-may bevaried in many ways without departing from the nature or spirit of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1 In avehicle, the combination with a foldable body and a foldablewheel-axle, of pivoted crossed legs supported on the axle and supportingthe body, whereby the Weight of the load Will keep the vehicle inunfolded position, substantially as described.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a body foldable on a longitudinalplane, of a foldable Wheel-axle Whose parts are pivoted together andcrossed legs pivoted together at substantially right angles to thepivots in the axle, said legs supported from the axle and supporting thefoldable body, whereby the parts of the Wheel-axle will be movedhorizontally to fold the body and the legs be moved at right anglestothe direction of movement ofthefoldable aXle to fold, the Weight ofthe load keeping the vehicle in unfolded position, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a vehicle, the combination With a foldaoie body, shafts hingedthereto and afoldable Wheel-axle, each of said parts foldable intodifferent planes and each of the planes at right angles to the others,substantially as described.

4. In avehicle, the combination of two pairs of crossed legs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, and a jointed axle fixed to the lowerends of said legs and provided with Wheels on its ends, substantially asdescribed.

5. In avehicle, the combination of two pairs of crossed legs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, a jointed Wheel-axle, and bearersattached thereto to Which the lower ends of the said legs are pivoted,substantially as described.

63. In a vehicle, the combination of two pairs of crossed legs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, a jointed wheel-axle and bearers onthe axle, substantially as described.

7. In avehicle, the combination of two pairs of crossed legs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, a jointed wheel-axle, arm-rests, barsconnecting the ends of the legs, and shafts connected to said bars,substantially as described.

8. A vehicle, comprising a wheel-axle jointed to fold in a horizontalplane, a seat, and seat supports jointed together and to the Wheel-axleto fold into a vertical longitudinal plane and elevate the seat; incombination with shafts jointed to the seat to fold between the Wheelswhen the vehicle is folded, substantially as described.

9. In a vehicle, the combination of two pairs of crossed logs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, a jointed wheel-axle, arm-rests, barsconnecting the legs, shafts attached to the said bars, andfastening-catchcs attached to the said bars and to the shafts,substantially as described.

10. In a vehicle,the combination of two pairs of crossed legs pivotedtogether at their crossing-points, a jointed Wheel-axle, arm-rests, barsconnecting the upper ends of the legs, and a folding foot-rest attachedto said bars substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EMIL BAUMANN. itnesses:

A. LIEBERKNEOIIT, E. BLUM.

